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Welcome to the wild, wild west.
Whether it’s the appeal of the picturesque mountains or the sense of rugged individualism and the triumph of the human spirit against challenging and untamed landscapes, readers have been drawn to Westerns since books first began to be printed.
Even today, the vast, sweeping vistas of the frontier continue to serve as a backdrop for tantalizing stories of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of justice—where right and wrong are sharply defined, and heroes will stop at nothing to save the day.
Of course, it’s Americans’ fascination with the West that led to Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, and more, becoming the #1 show on cable, dominating streaming sites and live views, before eventually coming to a end in 2024 following drama between the show’s central star (Costner) and its creator (Taylor Sheridan).
With several successful spinoffs and prequels already launched, and even more on the way, the cinematic world of Yellowstone is far from over. You can bet Hollywood, for better or worse, will milk Sheridan’s cash cow until the wheels come off.
And whether you’re a big fan of Beth Dutton and her fiery, “I am the tornado” persona, the perfect storm of razor-sharp wit, unapologetic confidence, and unmatched loyalty, or her cowboy beau, Rip—the ruggedly handsome rancher with a mysterious past who’s willing to get his hands dirty and ain’t scared of a little blood—the good news is that today’s fiction market is packed with great books full of similar character types and intriguing storielines set in Wyoming, Montana, and elsewhere out West.
So, if you’re looking to get your cowboy (or cowgirl) on, or you’re just feeling nostalgic and missing Yellowstone, and need something to take the edge off and transport you back to the mountains for a bit, here are 10 books you have to check out.
Strap in tight, now! Here we go . . .
The undisputed king of the modern Western, C.J. Box is arguably the finest storyteller working today. His long-running, #1 New York Times bestselling Joe Pickett series—now twenty-four books strong—has helped shape and define the genre for a new generation.
Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, is as honest as they come—maybe even to a fault. A devoted family man who never misses a chance to brag about his daughters and family, he’s the kind of everyday hero readers instantly connect with. But when the moment calls for it, Joe is relentless in his pursuit of justice. Not in the Jack Reacher way—Joe’s no 6’5” bruiser—but with truth, honor, and sheer grit on his side. And while he’s not one to break bones, he does have a friend who will: Nate Romanowski, Box’s brilliantly crafted outlaw ally.
This time out, a wealthy British woman arrives in Wyoming for the ultimate cowgirl adventure—and disappears. Joe takes the case, but the moment he starts asking questions, influential people move to shut him down. When that fails, the threats turn violent. And once things get Western, there’s no going back.
Simply put, there’s no better franchise in print today. With more than twenty novels to devour, Box’s Joe Pickett books are the perfect fix while you wait for the next Yellowstone spinoff.
Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson
Set in Wyoming, Craig Johnson’s New York Times bestselling Longmire series is a masterclass in modern Western mystery—perfect for fans of Yellowstone who crave rugged landscapes, deep-rooted family feuds, and a lawman who won’t back down. In this book, still recovering from a brutal and harrowing ordeal in Mexico, Sheriff Walt Longmire is drawn into a web of secrets after a shepherd’s death points to a powerful Basque ranching family with a violent past. Wolves, grudges, and an eerie trail of cryptic clues raise the stakes, especially when a young boy’s safety hangs in the balance—keeping readers glued to the edge of their seats. Expect a gritty and atmospheric mystery, laced with Johnson’s trademark wit. Land of Wolves is Longmire at his most compelling, and proof that nobody blends mystery and the modern West quite like Craig Johnson.
There’s no perfect way to say this, so—full disclosure—I wrote this book. Most of you know me as the Real Book Spy, but I made my debut as a novelist in 2022 with Fields of Fire. A lifelong fan of Westerns and deeply influenced by Vince Flynn and C.J. Box, I set out to create a story that blends the grit of the modern West with high-octane suspense.
At its center is Matthew Redd, a former Marine Raider who returns to his Montana hometown for the first time in over a decade to investigate the death of his adopted father, cattle rancher Jim Bob Thompson. While trying to get the ranch in order, Redd stumbles onto a global conspiracy—one only he can stop.
Standing 6’3” and built like a sledgehammer in a scalpel’s world, Redd is cut from the same cloth as Yellowstone’s Rip Wheeler and Kayce Dutton—though I wrote him before the show ever aired. Fiercely loyal and willing to fight to the last breath for his ranch, Redd plays by his own moral code. But push him too far . . . and all bets are off.
In this high-octane debut perfect for fans of C.J. Box and Jack Carr, DEA agent and former Green Beret Garrett Kohl returns to his Texas High Plains home to find it under siege by a ruthless criminal network. What was supposed to be a quick mission turns into a war for survival as Kohl’s family and community are targeted. Outnumbered and outgunned, he uses his elite training and intimate knowledge of the rugged Llano Estacado to take the fight to the enemy—proving that in this unforgiving land, nothing is tougher than the people who call it home.
With four books under his belt, Moore is a standout new voice in the thriller world, and for good reason. What starts as small-town trouble in Down Range, quickly escalates into deadly violence, forcing his hero to fight with everything he’s got to protect his family, his land, and his way of life. It’s set in Texas, not Wyoming or Montana, but aside from that, it’s right on target, packing everything fans of Yellowstone are looking for.
The Far Empty by J. Todd Scott
“[So] good I wish I’d written it. The poetic and bloody ground of West Texas has given birth to a powerful new voice in contemporary western crime fiction.”—Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire series.
I mean, it’s awful hard to beat that endorsement from Johnson, one of the masters of the modern Western. Do you really need more? Fine. Few authors today write with the power and conviction of J. Todd Scott. This one, his debut and the first in the Chris Cherry series, is a gripping blend of crime thriller and Western, infused with the authenticity only a former DEA federal agent could bring. Scott writes with a been-there, done-that authority that sets him apart in the genre. He’s also remarkably versatile and willing to tackle bold, complex themes that other writers avoid with a deft touch few could match. I’m a huge fan of Scott’s work—and if you’re looking for a hard-boiled Western with some grit, this one fits the bill.
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